Bags of cash for Whitchurch walking festival

Whitchurch Walking Festival is to receive bags of cash to help it hold its 2019 event.

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Building on previous years’ walking festivals, the Whitchurch Walkers group has been given a minimum of £1,000 to help fund their continued successful event.

Following a successful application by chairman, Neil Moore, the group will be one of the contenders in Tesco’s Bags of Help draw in January and February next year, which will guarantee the

group £1,000, the award for third place.

The money, together with support from Whitchurch Town Council, will be used by the festival sub-committee to help subsidise transport and venue hire, leaflet printing and providing evening entertainment, minimising the cost to the those taking part.

The festival has been held every May since 2013 and takes place over three days. It appeals to walkers of all abilities, with about 24 routes, from short guided walks exploring the history of the town to the 18-mile circular Whitchurch Wheel.

There are also themed walks including canal boat trips, sketching walks, poetry writing, nature and local attractions.

Baz Fewster, secretary of the group, said: "Previous festivals have grown year-on-year, with last year’s three-day extravaganza bringing over £5,000 into the local economy."

He said next years’ festival will be over the weekend of May 10-12. For more details about the festival and how to register to receive the programme when it is released, go to whitchurchwalkers.co.uk.